Annealing-box.



PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907.

J. B. HENRY. ANNBALIN'G BOX. APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. 1906.

' FIG. 1

841 "m" I l INVE TOR. $26. 75 ,MV \7Q WITNESSES.

I11 W W l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. HENRY, OF ASPINWALL BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNIONSTEEL CASTING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYIP VANIA.

ANNE ALING-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed Mav 26. 1906. Serial No. 318,914;

5 Improvement in Annealing-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to annealing boxes and especially to annealingboxes formed of cast steel or other cast metal.

The object of the invention is to strengthen such boxes and especiallythe top portion thereof so as to I greatly increase the life thereof. I

Annealing boxes are provided with side and end walls, and roof, andgenerally the roof is arched. These boxes are subjected to intense longcontinued heat which softens the metal thus causing the arched roof toBag by its weight and push the upper portions of the sidewallsoutwardly. This not only greatly distorts the box but eventually causesthe entire box to collapse.

My invention is to overcome this detect in annealing boxes and toprovide means for preventing the sagging oi the roof and outward bulgingof the side walls.

i The invention consists, generally stated, in providing such boxes withone or more transverse tie members Connecting-the pp Portions of theside Walls so as to rical arched roof, I wish it understood that itapplies prevent said side walls from bulging outwardly and alsoconnected to the roof by a support or strut. l in the accompanyingdrawing Figure 1 isaside view of an annealing box embodying myinvention, a part being in central vertical longitudinal section; andFig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22,.Fig. l.

The annealing box described is provided with the usual side walls 1, endwalls 2, and arched roof 3, these parts being formed as a singleintegral casting and the side and end walls being stiffened orstrengthened by the horizontal ribs 4, all as is usual in this type ofboxes. The usual trunnions 5 are also proyided for lifting the box.

Itis obvious that when the roof of such a box sags it will push theupper portions of the side walls outwardly. My invention is applied toprevent such outward bulging of the side wallsand downward sagging ofthe arched roof; It consists in connecting the side walls near their topportions and substantially at the point where the arched roof springsfrom the side walls with a transverse tie member or members -7, thedrawings showing three such tie members in the box illustrated. Thesetie members preferably are cast'integra-Lwith the box. They areconnected to the roof Jay one or more struts or supports 8, although ifdesired, a web'lnay take the place of the struts shown. For the sake oflightness, however, the struts are preferred, and they are in effect anopen web. .The side walls of the box are also strengthened by verticalribs 5 preferably in the same plane as the tie members 7.

The tie members 7 are in effect ch ordsof trusses and act as tensionmembers to prevent the side walls of the box from bulging'out due totheoutward thrust of the sagging roof. Consequently the distortion ofthe box is very greatly prevented and the strut members 8 furthersupport the roof so that it is practically impossible for the roof tosag.

My box is very simple of construction as 'it can be formed by casting inthe mold with very little additional coring over the method ofmanufacturing prior boxes. The top portion of the box is so strengthenedthat the distortion thereof is practically overcome and consequently thelife of the box is very greatly increased.

While the box is shown as provided with a symmetequally as well to a boxhaving any root higher at'its center than at its sides, such as a hiproof, and may also be applied to a flat roofed box with beneficialresults.

What I claim is:

1. An annealing box having side and end. walls, an arched roof, and atransverse tie member connecting the side walls near their tops, allsaid parts being a single integral casting.

12. An annealing box having side and end walls, a not. and a trussmember connecting the side walls near their tops and supporting theroof, all said parts being a single integral casting.

3. An annealing box comprising side and end walls. a roof, a chordextending between the side walls near their tops, and struts extendingfrom said chord to the root, all said parts being a single integralcasting.

In testimony whereof, I the said JOHN ll. lllcxln' have hereunto set myhand.

.lOlIN H. HENRY.

Witnesses:

ROBERT C. TOTTEN, J. R. Knnnnn.

